22 MAY 2020 VOLUME 22 ISSUE 20

Media Coverage

• We Will Not Defeat COVID-19 Without Including Africa In The Global Response

  In much of the global COVID-19 conversation, Africa is barely mentioned. But the risks which the COVID-19 crisis brings are even greater in Africa than elsewhere – and those risks will be compounded if Africa is marginalized in the global response.

  May 22, 2020

  General

  Health Times

• Monkeys Infected With COVID-19 Develop Immunity in Studies, a Positive Sign for Vaccines

  Two studies in monkeys published on Wednesday offer some of the first scientific evidence that surviving COVID-19 may result in immunity from reinfection, a positive sign that vaccines under development may succeed, US researchers said on Wednesday.

  May 20, 2020

  Reuters

• Different Approaches to a Coronavirus Vaccine

  Scientists are developing more than 100 coronavirus vaccines using a range of techniques, some of which are well-established and some of which have never been approved for medical use before.

  May 20, 2020

  General

  New York Times

• HIV Vaccine Trials Group Steps Up to the COVID-19 Plate

  The HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched its first clinical trial in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

  May 20, 2020

  General

  POZ

• Maximising Pleasure With New Look Cupid Condom

  Some activists believe that changing the messaging around internal condoms will encourage more women using them as ‘cool sexual devices’.

  May 20, 2020

  Male and Female Condoms

  Health-E news

• HIV Injectable Tx May Work in Men -- But What About Women?

  While results for the long-acting HIV prevention medication cabotegravir are promising in men who have sex with men (MSM), there is still no data on this drug in women, begging the question of whether this will be another HIV prevention option that ends up being approved for only one population.

  May 19, 2020

  PrEP

  MedPage Today

• Almost 11,000 HIV-Positive Patients in Gauteng Have Skipped ARV Collection During Lockdown

  The Gauteng health department on Tuesday said it was trying to trace thousands of TB and HIV-positive patients who have failed to collect their medication since the start of the lockdown on March 27, 2020.

  May 19, 2020

  Treatment

  Sowetan Live

• Drugs and Vaccines Are Coming—But to Whom?

  The rush is on to come up with a viable vaccine against COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Scores of academic institutions and companies around the world are hard at work, and at least eight vaccine candidates have reached or are approaching the clinical trial stage. Oxford University’s Jenner Institute is currently leading the race and due to start large-scale human trials by the end of May.

  May 19, 2020

  General

  Foreign Affairs

• Long-Acting Injectable Drug Prevents HIV Infections

  A long-acting antiretroviral drug given as an injection every two months powerfully protected uninfected people from HIV in a large-scale study that was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  May 18, 2020

  PrEP

  Science

• Investigational PrEP Injection, Dosed Every Other Month, Holds Up Against Daily PrEP in Phase 3 Study

  Taken every 2 months, the long-acting injectable drug cabotegravir prevented more HIV infections than daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC), according to newly announced results from a major Phase 3 study.

  May 18, 2020

  PrEP

  The BodyPro

• COVID-19, Yes but HIV Needs Attention Too

  While there is a need for COVID-19 research, it is also important not to erase other important public health issues, such as HIV. Let us not let COVID-19 make us abandon the efforts we have put into HIV research and implementation and stall the progress made this far.

  May 18, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  The Times Malawi

• HIV Vaccines: Are You Aware?

  Today, we honour HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, as we do every May 18. As an HIV prevention advocate, I want to celebrate and thank the Zambian government for hosting the Imbokodo study, one of only two ongoing HIV vaccine efficacy trials on the globe. As a nation, we should also thank the altruistic women who give their bodies, time and hope as trial participants so that this vaccine study might finally lead us on a path to ending HIV transmission.

  May 18, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  Zambia Daily Mail

• Human Challenge Studies for a COVID-19 Vaccine: Ethical Quandaries

  Experts in infectious disease and public health warn that the COVID-19 pandemic will be with us for a long time unless a vaccine becomes available soon, which is not likely. Estimates of how long it will take for an effective vaccine to come to market range from 12 to 18 months or longer. This situation has given rise to calls for human challenge studies. In these types of studies, researchers inject healthy volunteers with an experimental vaccine, after which the participants are infected with a strain of the disease in order to test the vaccine’s efficacy.

  May 15, 2020

  General

  The Doctor’s Tablet Blog

Published Research

• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in a Reproductive Health Setting: A Quality Improvement Project

  This intervention established a system for clinic staff to identify patients at risk for acquiring HIV in order to discuss accurate, evidence-based PrEP information. Findings are limited to this particular setting due to a small sample size, which eliminated the possibility for statistical analysis.

  May 21, 2020

  PrEP

  Health Promotion Practice

• COVID-19, Telemedicine, and Patient Empowerment in HIV Care and Research

  Due to the notable health disparities in both the COVID-19 and HIV-1 pandemics, we believe it is important to work towards equitable models of HIV care. In this paper, we present a patient case from our HIV clinic and explore the potential tradeoffs between patient-centered care and telemedicine.

  May 21, 2020

  General

  AIDS and Behavior

• Disinformation, Misinformation and Inequality-Driven Mistrust in the Time of COVID-19: Lessons Unlearned from AIDS Denialism

  The purpose of this commentary is to suggest that understanding the etiologies of disinformation, misinformation, and medical mistrust must be an important component of the public health response to COVID-19. This is especially critical when considering how the pandemic has affected communities of color, including Asian communities who have been blamed for the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 to the US and Black communities who have been blamed for higher fatality rates among Black populations.

  May 21, 2020

  General

  AIDS and Behavior

• Adapting to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Continuing HIV Prevention Services for Adolescents Through Telemonitoring, Brazil

  Closing sexual health services due to COVID-19 quarantine policies will likely have detrimental impacts on health services access and discontinuity of care among marginalized populations in low- and middle-income countries. These challenges may be particularly acute for sexual and gender minorities such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW), but also for sexual and reproductive health and family planning services for women.

  May 21, 2020

  PrEP

  AIDS and Behavior

• Patterns of Condom Use in a University Student Population Residing in a High-Risk Area for HIV Infection

  Condom use among students in northern Kosovo was low. Strategies for HIV prevention should be focussed on promoting healthy behaviours, especially among female students and students who live alone while at university. Moreover, sexuality education should be carried out in schools and primary health care centres to provide support and enable young people to negotiate safe sex.

  May 21, 2020

  Male and Female Condoms

  The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care

• “I Feel Empowered”: Women’s Perspectives On and Experiences With Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy in the USA and Spain

  Women shared many of the positive perceptions expressed by men but also had unique perspectives, including finding that long-acting antiretroviral therapy addressed the challenge of remembering pills amidst busy day-to-day realities including multiple roles and responsibilities, is less time consuming and creates less stress compared to oral antiretroviral therapy, and is emotionally freeing and empowering. The gendered nature of women’s lives shaped why and how they were satisfied with long-acting antiretroviral therapy.

  May 21, 2020

  General

  Culture, Health & Sexuality

• Robust Antibody and Cellular Responses Induced by DNA-Only Vaccination for HIV

  PENNVAX®-GP DNA induced robust cellular and humoral immune responses, demonstrating that immunogenicity of DNA vaccines can be enhanced by EP route and inclusion of pIL-12. ID/EP was dose-sparing, inducing equivalent, or in some aspects superior, immune responses compared to IM/EP.

  May 21, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  JCI Insights

• Novel Approaches Towards a Functional Cure of HIV/AIDS

  Therapeutic approaches towards a functional cure or eradication of HIV have gained renewed momentum upon encouraging data emerging from studies in SIV monkey models and recent results from human clinical studies. However, a multitude of questions remain to be addressed, including how to deal with the latent viral reservoir, how to boost the host immune response to the virus and what the hurdles are to reach relevant viral compartments in the body.

  May 20, 2020

  Drugs

• Impact of Implementing an Online Interactive Educational Tool for Future HIV “Cure” Research in an HIV Clinic Waiting Room in Cape Town, South Africa

  The educational tool comprises two modules that provide information on HIV prevention, treatment and cure research. Participants completed a questionnaire before and after interacting with the programme. There was a significant increase in knowledge scores of participants demonstrated after using the tool. The interactive tool was successful in increasing participants’ knowledge of HIV prevention, treatment and cure research.

  May 20, 2020

  Cure

  AIDS Care

• Studies Explore HIV Treatment and Prevention in Pregnant Women

  Taking dolutegravir along with a single pill containing emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) is the safest, most effective option for pregnant women with HIV and their infants, according to a large international study presented recently at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).

  May 19, 2020

  PrEP, Treatment

  JAMA

• ‘Ending the Epidemic’ Will Not Happen Without Addressing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the US HIV Epidemic

  We estimated HIV incidence and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for Blacks and Hispanics versus Whites in six US cities (2020-2030). Large reductions in incidence are possible, but without elimination of disparities in healthcare access, we found wide disparities for Blacks to Whites in particular persisted.

  May 19, 2020

  General

  Clinical Infectious Diseases

• Low Coverage of HIV Testing Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nigeria: Implication for Achieving the UNAIDS First 95

  The HIV testing coverage among AYA in Nigeria is well below the national target of 95 percent indicated in the national HIV/AIDS strategic framework (2017–2021). Also, the low rate of HIV testing found in this study means realising the UNAIDS first 95 will require interventions targeting AYA. These interventions should focus on improving young people's knowledge of HIV, reducing negative stigma belief through media campaigns and increasing access to HIV testing through home-based testing and "opt-out" strategy at the point of care.

  May 19, 2020

  General

  PLOS One

• The Search for an HIV Vaccine, the Journey Continues

  On this Vaccine Awareness Day, we must acknowledge that the HIV vaccine research field is quickly approaching a critical crossroads. This past decade has been spent launching improved vaccine concepts and immune‐based strategies into trials. Despite these advances, a safe and durably effective HIV vaccine has eluded us. In this regard, we must evaluate the current state of the field and make appropriate adjustments to help speed us to our goal.

  May 18, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  JIAS

• Serum and Cervicovaginal IgG Immune Responses Against α7 and α9 HPV in Non-Vaccinated Women at Risk for Cervical Cancer: Implication for Catch-Up Prophylactic HPV Vaccination

  Around two-third of first-generation African immigrant women living in France showed frequent ongoing genital HPV infection and high rates of circulating and genital IgG to α7/α9 HPV, generally cross-reacting, avoiding the possibility of catch-up vaccination. Nevertheless, about one-third of women had no evidence of previous HPV infection, or showed only low levels of genital and circulating HR-HPV-specific IgG and could therefore be eligible for catch-up vaccination.

  May 18, 2020

  HPV Vaccines

  PLOS One

• Predicting Pharmacokinetics of a Tenofovir Alafenamide Subcutaneous Implant Using PBPK Modelling

  These simulations provide target minimum doses for LA TAF PrEP in humans. Based on the generated results, multiple implants delivering a total of 1.4 mg/day of TAF subcutaneously could provide protections levels for approximately 6-months to 1 year. This modelling may inform future design of SC implants to mitigate adherence-issues for effective PrEP applications.

  May 18, 2020

  PrEP

  Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

• Sex Work Is Associated With Increased Vaginal Microbiome Diversity in Young Women From Mombasa, Kenya

  Non-optimal vaginal microbiomes were common in young Kenyan women and associated with sex work and recent sexual activity, but independent of age. Restoring optimal vaginal microflora may represent a useful HIV prevention strategy.

  May 17, 2020

  General

  JAIDS

• “[Repeat] Testing and Counseling Is One of the Key [Services] That the Government Should Continue Providing”: Participants’ Perceptions on Extended Repeat HIV Testing and Enhanced Counseling (ERHTEC) For Primary HIV Prevention in Pregnant and Lactating...

  This study shows that enhanced individual and couple counselling linked to extended repeat HIV and STI testing and focusing on HIV prevention, couple communication, family planning and nutrition is a feasible and acceptable intervention that could enhance risk reduction programs among pregnant and lactating women.

  May 15, 2020

  General

  BMC Public Health

• Acceptability and Preferences for Long-Acting Antiretroviral Formulations Among People With HIV Infection

  The most common benefit reported was eliminating the need to remember taking daily HIV pills (74 percent); 43 percent were worried that LA-ART will not be as effective as pills. Participants with a college degree, men who have sex with men, and ART-experienced were more willing to use LA-ART. Participants who reported poor or fair health, or who screened positive for depression or anxiety were significantly less willing to use LA-ART. The likelihood of using LA-ART did not correlate with self-reported adherence and HIV suppression.

  May 14, 2020

  Treatment

  AIDS Care

• Trends and Determinants of Ever Having Tested for HIV Among Youth and Adults in South Africa From 2005–2017: Results From Four Repeated Cross-Sectional Nationally Representative Household-Based HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour Surveys

  The results show that overall there has been an increase in ever having an HIV test in the South African population over time. The findings also suggest that for South Africa to close the testing gap and reach the first of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by 2020, targeted programmes aimed at increasing access and utilization of HIV testing in young people, males, those not married, the less educated, unemployed and those residing in rural areas of South Africa should be prioritised.

  May 14, 2020

  General

  PLOS One

• Using PrEP to #STOPHIVATL: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey Among Gay Men and Transgender Women Participating in Gay Pride Events in Atlanta, Georgia, 2018

  Key racial and socioeconomic disparities in active PrEP use and reasons for nonuse remain despite the recent increases in PrEP awareness and use among MSM/TWSM in Atlanta. Achieving overall improvement in uptake among all MSM/TWSM sub-groups will require tailoring PrEP educational messaging, optimizing communication modalities, expanding provider outreach, and identifying ways to defray costs for high-risk, underserved sub-groups in these populations.

  May 14, 2020

  PrEP

  Archives of Sexual Behavior

• Treatment Experience and Repeat Pregnancy Impacts the Effectiveness of NNRTI-HAART for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV

  individual treatment history is a key metric determining the effectiveness of current and future PMTCT interventions. The implications of this to PMTCT programmatic success in light of the most recent WHO guidelines are discussed.

  May 14, 2020

  Treatment

  AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses

• Efficacy and Freedom: Patient Experiences With the Transition From Daily Oral to Long-Acting Injectable Antiretroviral Therapy to Treat HIV in the Context of Phase 3 Trials

  The most salient consideration when contemplating LA ART was its clinical efficacy; many participants reported wanting to ensure that it worked as well as daily oral ART, including with less frequent dosing (every 8 versus 4 weeks). While injection side effects were often reported, most participants felt that regimen benefits outweighed such drawbacks. Participants described the main benefit of LA ART as the “freedom” it afforded both logistically and psychosocially, including through reduced HIV stigma.

  May 14, 2020

  Treatment

  AIDS and Behavior

• Outcomes From an Urgent Care Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Protocol for the Prevention of HIV

  The developed urgent care–specific PrEP protocol resulted in an increase in knowledge and comfort and a reduction in barriers associated with PrEP use. Overall, the urgent care PrEP protocol showed the ability to assist the urgent care clinician in many areas previously noted in research as reasons for reduced PrEP use. The urgent care PrEP protocol serves as an additional tool for the urgent care providers in HIV biomedical preventative care. The results of this project are reported using the Standards of Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence.

  May 14, 2020

  PrEP

  JANAC

• HIV Testing and PrEP Use in a National Probability Sample of Sexually Active Transgender People in the United States

  These findings may indicate some success of HIV testing outreach programs that prioritize people at higher risk for acquiring HIV, focusing on those who are vulnerable to structural marginalization. Ongoing public health efforts are needed to increase HIV testing and PrEP awareness among transgender adults, who are disproportionately impacted by HIV.

  May 13, 2020

  PrEP

  JAIDS

• 'Rinse and Replace': Boosting T Cell Turnover To Reduce HIV-1 Reservoirs

  We propose accelerating reservoir washout during ART by triggering sequential waves of polyclonal CD4+ T cell activation while simultaneously enhancing virus protein expression. Reservoir reduction as an adjunct to other therapies might achieve lifelong viral control.

  May 12, 2020

  General

  Trends in Immunology

• Therapeutic Vaccines for the Treatment of HIV

  Despite the success of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in transforming HIV into manageable disease, it has become evident that long-term ART will not eliminate the HIV reservoir and cure the infection. Alternative strategies to eradicate HIV infection, or at least induce a state of viral control and drug-free remission are therefore needed. Therapeutic vaccination aims to induce or enhance immunity to alter the course of a disease.

  May 10, 2020

  Therapeutic Vaccines, Treatment

  Translational Research

• HIVconsv Vaccines and Romidepsin in Early-Treated HIV-1-Infected Individuals: Safety, Immunogenicity and Effect on the Viral Reservoir (Study BCN02)

  Kick & Kill strategies combining drugs aiming to reactivate the viral reservoir with therapeutic vaccines to induce effective cytotoxic immune responses hold potential to achieve a functional cure for HIV-1 infection. Here, we report on an open-label, single-arm, phase I clinical trial, enrolling 15 early-treated HIV-1-infected individuals, testing the combination of the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin as a latency-reversing agent and the MVA.HIVconsv vaccine.

  May 6, 2020

  Cure, Therapeutic Vaccines

  Frontiers in Immunology

• TIGIT Blockade: A Multipronged Approach to Target the HIV Reservoir

  An idealized strategy to achieve HIV-1 cure proposes combined viral and immune activation by “shock”ing HIV-1 out of latency and into an immunologically visible state to be recognized and “kill”ed by immune effector cells. Here we outline the potential for blockade of the inhibitory immune checkpoint T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domains (TIGIT) to overcome natural killer (NK) cell and T cell inhibition associated with HIV-1 infection and invigorate antiviral effector cell responses against HIV-1 reactivated from the latent cellular reservoir.

  May 5, 2020

  Cure

  Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

• Nanoparticle-Based Immunoengineered Approaches for Combating HIV

  Here, we present and discuss the current state of the field in nanoparticle-based immunoengineering approaches for an HIV cure. Specifically, we discuss nanoparticle-based methods for improving HAART as well as latency reversal, developing vaccines, targeting viral fusion, enhancing gene editing approaches, improving adoptively transferred immune-cell mediated reservoir clearance, and other therapeutic and prevention approaches.

  April 28, 2020

  Cure

  Frontiers in Immunology

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